Escaping poverty, violence and the climate crisis are factors, but the main driver is rich societies demanding cheap labour, says migration scholar Hein de Haas
Politicians from left to right know this reality, but they don’t dare admit it out of fear of being seen as “soft on immigration”.
This is far too generous. They want a cheap workforce and they want to keep it cheap. Demonising migrants and taking years to provide them with papers and the legal right to work, with a permanent threat of deportation regardless of residency rights, is not intended to reduce their numbers, it is intended to make them easier to exploit. And, by lowering the bar for the most exploitable, making everyone else easier to exploit too.
On November 22, Joanne circulated a letter among the migrant crew. “I have been made aware the crew members are contacting an outside representative,” it read, possibly referencing a call Quezon made to Stella Maris seeking help for Susada. “I am also aware that crew members have been leaving their port without permission or making our office aware. Sadly the actions by these crew members are beginning to ruin the trust and faith we have placed in our Filipino crew.” It concluded by noting they would make reports to local police and UK immigration authorities “if necessary”.
This is far too generous. They want a cheap workforce and they want to keep it cheap. Demonising migrants and taking years to provide them with papers and the legal right to work, with a permanent threat of deportation regardless of residency rights, is not intended to reduce their numbers, it is intended to make them easier to exploit. And, by lowering the bar for the most exploitable, making everyone else easier to exploit too.
The fishermen
Disgusting people.